Reusable straw storage device

ABSTRACT

A reusable straw storage device includes a storage unit, and a winding unit mounted in said storage unit and rotatable to roll up a reusable straw, enabling the reusable straw to be received in the storage unit in a roll.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to reusable straw storage device and moreparticularly, to such a reusable straw storage device, which isconvenient to use and practical for storing and carrying a used orcleaned reusable straw.

2. Description of the Related Art

Plastic straws are disposable products, which have a considerable impacton the environment. Therefore, many countries start to limit the use ofplastic straws. The existing method of replacing plastic straws is touse reusable straws made of flexible materials, so that reusable strawscan be cleaned for repeated use. However, how to conveniently use, storeand carry reusable straws or cleaned reusable straws is a subject ofresearch and development for the relevant industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is therefore the main object of the present invention toprovide a reusable straw storage device, which is convenient to use andpractical for storing and carrying a used or cleaned reusable straw.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a reusablestraw storage device comprises a storage unit and a winding unit. Thestorage unit comprises an outer casing and a bushing. The outer casingcomprises an accommodating space defined therein and at least oneplacement slot in communication between the accommodating space and thespace outside the storage unit. The bushing is mounted in theaccommodating space of the outer casing, comprising an upright dust walland at least one opening cut through the upright dust wall. The windingunit comprises a covering device and a positioning member. The coveringdevice is capped on the outer casing over the accommodating space. Thepositioning member is connected to the covering device, comprising aplurality of clamping plates suspending in the accommodating space. Thebushing is rotatable in the outer casing between an open position wherethe at least one opening is kept in alignment with the at least oneplacement slot, and a close position where the at least one opening isblocked by the outer casing. When the at least one opening is kept inalignment with the at least one placement slot, one end of a reusablestraw can be insertable through the at least one placement slot and theat least one opening into a gap between the clamping plates of thepositioning member, letting the inserted reusable straw be rolled up bythe positioning member upon rotation of the covering device relative tothe storage unit and then received inside the storage unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique top elevational view of a reusable straw storagedevice in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the reusable straw storage device inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the reusable straw storage device inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic applied view of the reusable straw storage devicein accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention,showing a reusable straw inserted into a gap between the clampingplates.

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the reusable straw storage device inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, showingthe reusable straw partially rolled up.

FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5, showing the reusable straw completelyrolled up and received inside the storage unit.

FIG. 7 is an oblique top elevational view of a reusable straw storagedevice in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the reusable straw storage device inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the reusable straw storage device inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a reusable straw storage device inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 corresponds to FIG. 10, showing a reusable straw rolled up andreceived in the storage unit.

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a reusable straw storage device inaccordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view, partially in sectional elevation, of thereusable straw storage device in accordance with the fourth embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic sectional view of the fourth embodiment of thepresent invention, illustrating the storage unit received in the storageunit.

FIG. 15 corresponds to FIG. 14, showing the winding unit taken out ofthe storage unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a reusable straw storage device in accordancewith a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The reusablestraw storage device comprises a storage unit 1 and a winding unit 2.

The storage unit 1 comprises an outer casing 11 and a bushing 12. Theouter casing 11 is provided with an accommodating space 111, and twoopposite placement slots 112 in communication with the accommodatingspace 111. The bushing 12 is installed in the accommodating space 111 ofthe outer casing 11, comprising a ring-shaped base 123 disposed inproximity to the bottom of the accommodating space 111 of the outercasing 11, a dust wall 121 perpendicularly upwardly extended from theperiphery of the ring-shaped base 123 and surrounded by the inner wallof the accommodating space 111 of the outer casing 11 and two oppositeopenings 122 located on the dust wall 121 corresponding to the placementslots 112. The width of the placement slots 112 is smaller than thewidth of the openings 122 of the bushing 12.

The winding unit 2 comprises a covering device 21 and a positioningmember 22. The covering device 21 is composed of a pivot cover 211 and arotating cover 213. The pivot cover 211 is attached to the upper side ofthe accommodating space 111 of the outer casing 11, having a pivot hole212 at the center thereof. The rotating cover 213 has a pivot 214downwardly extended from the center of the bottom wall thereof. Thepositioning member 22 comprises two clamping plates 221 that are formedintegral with and downwardly extended from the pivot 214 of the rotatingcover 213. The rotating cover 213 is covered on the pivot cover 211 withthe pivot 214 pivotally coupled to the pivot hole 212 to suspend theclamping plates 221 in the accommodating space 111.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, when the reusable straw storage device is inuse, enable the placement slots 112 of the storage unit 1 to berespectively kept in line with the openings 122 of the bushing 12. Ifthe dust wall 121 of the bushing 12 blocks the placement slots 112 ofthe storage unit 1, push the dust wall 121 of the bushing 12 relative tothe storage unit 1 to move the placement slots 112 of the storage unit 1into alignment with the openings 122 of the bushing 12. Then, insert thereusable straw 4 from one placement slot 112 and the adjacent opening122 into the accommodating space 111, enabling the tip of the reusablestraw 4 to enter the space between the two clamping plates 221. At thistime, operate the rotating cover 213 to rotate the clamping plates 221relative to the storage unit 1, causing the clamping plates 221 to rollup the reusable straw 4 in the accommodating space 111 of the storageunit 1. After the reusable straw 4 is completely received in the storageunit 1, the elastic restoring energy of the reusable straw 4 force thetip thereof into contact with the dust wall 121 of the bushing 12. Whencontinuously rotate the winding unit 2 relative to the storage unit 1for a certain distance, the dust wall 121 of the bushing 12 will bemoved into a closed position to block the placement slots 112, keepingthe storage unit 1 in an enclosed state to prevent the reusable straw 4from being polluted by the outside world, or the residual liquid in thereusable straw 4 from flowing out of the storage unit 1.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, a reusable straw storage device in accordancewith a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This secondembodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodimentwith the exception of the winding unit. According to this secondembodiment, the winding unit, referenced by 3, the winding unit 3further comprises an operating plate 33 and a pin 24. Further, thecovering device, referenced by 31, is provided with a pivot hole 311.The positioning member, referenced by 32, has a pivot 322 pivotallycoupled to the pivot hole 311. The clamping plates, referenced by 321,are downwardly extended from the bottom end of the pivot 322. The pivot322 has a top driven component 323. The operating plate 33 comprises agrip portion 331, two connection portions 332 respectively extended fromtwo opposite ends of the grip portion 331, and a positioning hole 333located on each connection portion 332. The top driven component 323 ofthe positioning member 32 is provided with a transverse through hole324. The two connection portions 332 are disposed at two opposite sidesrelative to the top driven component 323. The pin 34 is mounted in thetransverse through hole 324 and the positioning holes 333 to pivotallyconnect the operating plate 33 to the positioning member, referenced by32 above the covering device 31, allowing the operating plate 33 to bebiased between a horizontal position where the operating plate 33 isclosely disposed in contact with the top surface of the covering device31 and a vertical position where the operating plate 33 is keptperpendicular to the covering device 31. When the operating plate 33 iskept perpendicular to the covering device 31, the user can hold the gripportion 331 with the fingers and then rotate the operating plate 33,causing rotation of the clamping plates 321.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a reusable straw storage device inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention is shown.This third embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid secondembodiment with the exception as outlined hereinafter. The base 123′ ofthe bushing 12′ is provided with a pivot hole 124′. Further, the base123′ is kept in the outer casing 11 far from the bottom wall of theaccommodating space 111. The clamping plates 321 of the winding unit 3are inserted through the pivot hole 124′ into the accommodating space111. After the reusable straw 4 is rolled up and received inside thestorage unit 1, the elastic restoring energy causes the rolled-upreusable straw 4 to firmly abut against the inside wall of the bushing12′. If the covering device 31 is opened at this time, the reusablestraw 4 is still retained in the bushing 12′.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, for better storage and access of thereusable straw 4, a fourth embodiment of the present invention providesan alternative form of the positioning member 32. The differencesbetween the positioning member 32 of the aforesaid second embodiment andthe positioning member 32 of the present fourth embodiment are outlinedhereinafter. As illustrated, the positioning member 32 comprises twoclamping plates 321, a pivot 322, a top driven component 323, a firstcrown gear 325 and a second crown gear 326. The clamping plates 321extend from the bottom edge of the pivot 322. The first crown gear 325is located on the top edge of the pivot 322. The first crown gear 325has a clamping element 327 located at the center thereof, and a firstseries of teeth 3251 disposed around the bottom side of the clampingelement 327. The second crown gear 326 is set on the bottom surface ofthe top driven component 232. The top driven component 323 has anaccommodation chamber 3231 located at the center of the bottom surfacethereof. The second crown gear 326 has a through hole 3261. The secondseries of teeth 3262 is disposed around the through hole 3261. Thethrough hole 3261 communicates with the accommodation chamber 3231. Alocating element 3232 suspends in the accommodation chamber 3231. Thefirst series of teeth 3251 is disposed corresponding to the secondseries of teeth 3262. The locating element 3232 is pivotally connectedto the clamping element 327.

The covering device 31 is provided with a pivot hole 311. The pivot 322is pivoted to the pivot hole 311. The winding unit 3 further comprisesan operating plate 33 and a pin 34. The operating plate 33 comprises agrip portion 331, two connection portions 332 respectively extended fromtwo opposite ends of the grip portion 331, and a positioning hole 333located on each connection portion 332.

The top driven component 323 of the positioning member 32 is providedwith a transverse through hole 324. The two connection portions 332 aredisposed at two opposite sides relative to the top driven component 323.The pin 34 is mounted in the transverse through hole 324 and thepositioning holes 333.

The clamping plates 321 each comprise a clamping portion 3211,3212connected to the pivot 322, and a curved tip 3211 a, 3212 b extendedfrom the clamping portion 3211,3212 remote from the pivot 322. Thecurved tips 3211 a,3212 b of the two clamping portions 3211,3212 are setin a reversed and staggered manner, so that a clamping space A is formedbetween the curved tips 3211 a,3212 b of the two clamping portions3211,3212.

Referring to FIG. 14, when receiving a reusable straw 4, place thereusable straw 4 in the clamping space A, enabling the reusable straw 4to be held between the two clamping portions 3211,3212 by the curved tip3211 a and the curved tip 3212 a. Then, cover the covering device 31 onthe top side of the accommodating space 111 of the outer casing 11, sothat the clamping plates 321 of the positioning member 32 are disposedin the accommodation space 11. Thereafter, hold the grip portion 331 tolift the operating plate 33 from the covering device 31, and then rotatethe operating plate 33, causing rotation of the top driven component 323and the second crown gear 326 with the operating plate 33. Subject theengagement between the first series of teeth 3251 and the second seriesof teeth 3262, the rotary motion of the second crown gear 326 drives thefirst crown gear 325 and the clamping plate 321 to rotate, causing thereusable straw 4 to be scrolled by the clamping plates 321 and receivedin the accommodation space 111 of the storage unit 1.

Referring to FIG. 15, when using the reusable straw 4, hold the gripportion 331 to lift the operating plate 33, thereby disengaging thesecond series of teeth 3262 of the second crown gear 326 from the firstseries of teeth 3251 of the first crown gear 325. Thereafter, remove thewinding unit 3 from the storage unit 1. Since the locating element 3232is pivotally connected to the clamping element 327 and the second seriesof teeth 3262 of the second crown gear 326 is disengaged from the firstseries of teeth 3251 of the first crown gear 325, when the reusablestraw 4 is elastically reset from the scrolled state to the straightstate, the centrifugal force produced by the reusable straw 4 forces thefirst crown gear 325 to rotate relative to the second crown gear 326. Byabsorbing the centrifugal force, the positioning of the reusable straw 4is more stable after resetting, thereby preventing the reusable straw 4from falling out of the clamping space A.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reusable straw storage device, comprising: astorage unit comprising an outer casing and a bushing, said outer casingcomprising an accommodating space defined therein and at least oneplacement slot in communication between said accommodating space and thespace outside said storage unit, said bushing being mounted in saidaccommodating space of said outer casing, said bushing comprising anupright dust wall and at least one opening cut through said upright dustwall; and a winding unit comprising a covering device and a positioningmember, said covering device being capped on said outer casing over saidaccommodating space, said positioning member being connected to saidcovering device and comprising a plurality of clamping plates suspendingin said accommodating space; wherein said bushing is rotatable in saidouter casing between an open position where said at least one opening iskept in alignment with said at least one placement slot, and a closeposition where said at least one opening is blocked by said outercasing; when said at least one opening is kept in alignment with said atleast one placement slot, one end of a reusable straw is insertablethrough said at least one placement slot and said at least one openinginto a gap between said clamping plates of said positioning member forletting the inserted said reusable straw be rolled up by saidpositioning member upon rotation of said covering device relative tosaid storage unit and then received inside said storage unit. 2.(canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The reusable straw storage device as claimedin claim 1, wherein said covering device of said winding unit comprisesa pivot hole, said positioning member comprises a pivot pivotallycoupled to said pivot hole, said pivot comprising a top driven componentrotatable by an external force; said clamping plates are downwardlyextended from a bottom end of said pivot for rotation with said pivot.5. The reusable straw storage device as claimed in claim 4, wherein saidtop driven component of said positioning member is 5 provided with atransverse through hole; said winding unit further comprises anoperating plate and a pin, said operating plate comprising a gripportion, two connection portions respectively extended from two oppositeends of said grip portion and disposed at two opposite sides relative tosaid top driven component of said pivot and a positioning hole locatedon each said connection portion, said pin being mounted in saidtransverse through hole and said positioning holes to pivotally connectsaid operating plate to said positioning member above said coveringdevice, allowing said operating plate to be biased between a horizontalposition where said operating plate is closely disposed in contact witha top surface of said covering device and a vertical position where saidoperating plate is kept perpendicular to said covering device.
 6. Thereusable straw storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidbushing further comprises a base and a pivot hole located on said base,said base being forced integral with a bottom side of said upright dustwall and disposed in said outer casing far from a bottom wall of saidaccommodating space; said clamping plates are inserted through saidpivot hole of said base of said bushing into said accommodating spacewhen said covering device is covered on said outer casing.
 7. Thereusable straw storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidpositioning member comprises two said clamping plates, a pivot, a topdriven component, a first crown gear and a second crown gear, saidclamping plates extending from a bottom edge of said pivot, said firstcrown gear being located on an opposing top edge of said pivot, saidfirst crown gear comprising a clamping element located at the centerthereof and a first series of teeth disposed around a bottom side ofsaid clamping element, said second crown gear being set on a bottomsurface of said top driven component, said top driven componentcomprising an accommodation chamber located at the center of a bottomsurface thereof and a locating element suspending in said accommodationchamber, said second crown gear having a through hole, said secondseries of teeth being disposed around said through hole, said throughhole communicating with said accommodation chamber, said first series ofteeth being disposed corresponding to said second series of teeth, saidlocating element being pivotally connected to said clamping element,said covering device being provided with a pivot hole, said pivot beingpivoted to said pivot hole, said first series of teeth being engagedwith said second series of teeth so that rotating said top drivencomponent causes rotation of said clamping plates.
 8. The reusable strawstorage device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said top driven componentis provided with a transverse through hole; said winding unit furthercomprises an operating plate and a pin, said operating plate comprisinga grip portion, two connection portions respectively extended from twoopposite ends of said grip portion and a positioning hole located oneach said connection portion, said two connection portion being disposedat two opposite sides of said top driven component, said pin beingmounted in said transverse through hole and said positioning hole, saidoperating plate being liftable from said covering device and operable torotate said clamping plates relative to said covering device.
 9. Thereusable straw storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidclamping plates each comprise a clamping portion connected to said pivotand a curved tip extended from said clamping portion remote from saidpivot, the said curved tips of said two clamping portions being set in areversed and staggered manner, so that a clamping space is formedbetween said curved tips of said two clamping portions.